Evidence of meeting #55 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was enhancement.
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4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Raj Grewal Liberal Brampton East, ON
I would keep this to pre-budget consultations and the regular business of the committee, in my opinion. I don't think we need to draft another report, especially based on a report. Like, that makes absolutely no sense.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
I'm not sure if Mr. MacKinnon's actually put a formal amendment to it. It sounds like his own members won't support the amendment, so maybe we should just have a vote on the main motion.
I would just point out—
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
The amendment is already on the floor, so we're going to deal with it.
November 14th, 2016 / 4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Okay. Well, then the member opposite knows what we should do with it. Again, to the whole issue about a report to a report, so far the government has asked a group of 14 individuals who are donating their time, blue-sky thinking, and are giving to the government strategic ideas on how to grow the economy. Some of them are very far-reaching. Some of them have struck a chord, positively and negatively, across the country. As parliamentarians, when you're talking about things like, for example, an infrastructure bank and the capitalization of that and how it goes, we could ask some very good questions about that so we get a better understanding of it.
I think that part of our job here is not just to promote economic growth, but it's also to promote the opinions of the representatives—we're the ultimate representatives of the people—and what those things are.
I'm not sure; if members aren't going to support Mr. MacKinnon's amendment, maybe we should just dispose of that amendment and we should just go ahead with the original motion.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We'll see what happens on the amendment.
Is there any further discussion on the amendment?
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Raj Grewal Liberal Brampton East, ON
Sorry, it's just a process thing, and with my being a new member it might just be an amateur-hour question. To Mr. Albas's point on the fact that these recommendations are made, it doesn't prevent us from calling these people and asking them for more detail, and then taking that and asking those questions in the House, or getting clarification from the minister directly. You're adding work for the committee.
In my humble opinion, that's work for the sake of doing work. Here's a report that some very smart people are generating. Our committee will call them to testify here. We will ask them questions and then draft another report, saying whether we agree or disagree with their recommendations. That just makes no sense.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
As I said, I don't want to get into the discussion, Raj, but the advisory committee made a number of recommendations. The government accepted some. The committee would hear from the advisory committee. Maybe we as a committee would agree with the advisory committee in some areas that the government does not—I don't know—but you would report to the House on the basis of that fact.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
All those in favour of the amendment?
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to)
One other....
Mr. Caron, go ahead.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I was going to say that I had left out something earlier, which relates to supplementary estimates.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I think everyone knows the process in supplementary estimates. If we don't meet on it, they are deemed passed by the committee. The deadline for the committee to hold a meeting on supplementary estimates—to report back to the House—is December 6. It could be earlier, depending on when the last supply day would be. If the committee wants to deal with supplementary estimates, then we have to schedule that in as well.
I don't know what people's desire on that one is.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Does it need to be before December 6 or on December 6?
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
4:10 p.m.
NDP
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
It would have to be done.... I don't know where you would find time in here, to be honest.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
It's just the schedule here. Could the clerk maybe just offer some suggestions as to where she might try to either fill a hole or make one?
4:10 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Suzie, it's up to you.
Part of the problem is this. I think in all members' time frames.... As we get the draft of the parliamentary budget consultations, keep in mind there are 472 briefs and about 200 witnesses, and each party has yet to come up with recommendations. That is going to take some time. We are going to have that draft by the 25th. There would be possibly some time on the 24th, or the 29th, which is a Tuesday.
Mr. Caron, go ahead.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
I have a long shot here.
Obviously, the Minister of Finance will also be asked to appear on the estimates and even the supplementary estimates. The minister and public officials are appearing before the committee on the 17th on Bill C-29. If it were possible, that might be a good opportunity to discuss the supplementary estimates as well. We could hit two targets with one bullet. We could talk about the estimates, and we wouldn't have to ask the minister to come back.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Are there any thoughts? It could be handled that way.
Mr. Aboultaif, go ahead, and then Mr. Albas.